Besides Coloane Village, another place in Macau that I would surely find many happy moments exploring in is Taipa Village. In the shadow of the new at the not so far away Cotai Strip, and closer to Macau Peninsula, the village is on the island of the same name. In it is not only that meeting of east and west to discover, but also several well preserved colonial era buildings centered on the Avenida da Praia and also at Carmel Square. It is also a world where one can lose oneself, wandering the streets and finding little bits of not just the old world, but also some rather delectable treats – one famous one being the famed Tai Lei Loi Kei Pork Chop Bun, to indulge oneself in. Although not comprehensive, the following are seven things that one must do to discover that bit of old Macau in Taipa:
Taipa Village as seen off the reflection of a convex traffic mirror.
The new world of the Cotai Strip looms over old Taipa.
The streets of Taipa offer a fascinating insight into life in older Macau.
As the group of bloggers were to discover.
Old World Discoveries
Taipa is rich in the old world, including several well preserved buildings from the colonial era centered in the Praia area. On the heights above the Praia is a delightful little square with some excellent examples of public and religious architecture including Taipa Library and the Church of Our Lady of Carmel. Below this on the Avenida da Praia, there are also a row of five very pretty houses from the colonial period – beautifully preserved as the Taipa Houses-Museum. In each house, visitors are offered a look back in time into the colonial life with the first furnished much as it would have been during the colonial era, as well as Portuguese traditions, and into traditional industries.
(1) Carmel Square
Taipa Library at Carmel Square (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Church of Our Lady of Carmel, Carmel Square built in 1885 (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
(2) Avenida da Praia and the Taipa Houses Museum
The Taipa Houses Museum, a row of 5 colonial heritage houses along the Avenida da Praia (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Ai Sakura at the Avenida da Praia.
Taipa Houses Museum.
The Taipa Houses Museum offers a peek into an old world.
A child’s toy at the Taipa Houses Museum.
Admission to Taipa-Houses Museum (Closed on Mondays):
MOP/HKD5 per adult
FREE for visitors under 12 yrs old and above 65 years old
FREE admission on every Tuesdays.
Food Glorious Food
Taipa is also well known for its food and snacks with a host of well established eating places that offer Cantonese, Macanese and Portuguese cuisine including the O Manuel Portuguese Restaurant. There are also several food discoveries to be made, and besides the famous Pork Chop Bun there is also the famous Taipa Food Street,Rua do Cunha, lined with confectioneries and snack shops to discover, and not to forget, another must try are the Birds Nest Egg Tarts from San Hou Lei a little eatery on the Rua do Regedor.
(3) Rua do Cunha (Taipa Food Street)
The writing on the wall of a confectionery at one end of the famous Taipa Food Street (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Almond cookies in the works at Taipa Food Street (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Valyn seen along the Food Street.
More Almond Cookies!
The Food Street offers lots of snacks to satisfy any craving!
Taipa Food Street (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
(4) San Hou Lei – Bird’s Nest Egg Tarts
Bird’s Nest Egg Tarts!
(5) O Manuel Portuguese Restaurant
Sardine at O Manuel Portuguese Restaurant.
And lots of meat!
(6) Tai Lei Loi Kei Pork Chop Bun
Object of desire … can’t leave Taipa without sinking one’s mouth into one of these! The famous Tai Lei Loi Kei Pork Chop Bun.
Tai Lei Loi Kei in Taipa.
Roaming the Streets
One thing that I would certainly do when I do return to Macau is to roam the streets of Taipa (as well as Coloane and the area around Senado Square) just to get lost and find what Macau is truly all about. On the evidence of that little bit of time when I did actually get lost as the group walked ahead while I waited for Chun See who had paid a visit to the gents was that there was a wonderful labyrinth of lanes and alleyways – each with a unique charm and certainly one to discover and to photograph.
(7) Getting lost
The streets of Taipa make it a wonderful place to roam around …
… and get lost in …
Street scene.
The streets offer lots of little discoveries.
There’s lots of colour ….
The streets also offer a peek into life in the old world ….
… through its labyrinth of alleyways.
Village street (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
A shady tree lined road in Taipa Village (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Street sign.
Street scene.
Another street scene.
More street scenes …. (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
Houses (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
More houses (leading up to Taipa Food Street) (photograph taken with a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5).
A shuttered shop.
A sidewalk in Taipa.
The trip was made possible by the kind sponsorship of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) which included a three night stay at the Grand Lapa Macau, and also Tiger Airways who sponsored the two way flights.
Links to discovering Taipa:
Macau Government Tourist Office
Tiger Airways
Taipa
Museums (including Taipa Houses-Museum
Taipa Food Street on Wikipedia
O Manuel Portuguese Restaurant on HK Magazine
San Hou Lei on Macau24.com
Tai Lei Loi Kei on metropolasia.com
Note: this is a repost of my post on the omy.sg My Macau Experience 2012 site which sees 10 bloggers share experiences of their visit to Macau. Readers will get a chance to vote for their favourite My Macau Experience 2012 blogger and stand a chance to win $1000 worth of Macau travel vouchers. Voting has started (on 28 September 2012) and ends on 15 October 2012. Votes can be cast on a daily basis at the My Macau Experience 2012 Voting page.
The Long and Winding Road 